3 takeaways from a typical NCAA tourney loss for Nebraska basketball

It felt like it was going to be different this time. It felt like this was a team of destiny, at least destined to win the first-ever NCAA tournament game for Nebraska basketball.

But after the ball tipped off and an initial surge from Keisei Tominaga, reality set in. Nebraska basketball could score against Texas A&M, but the Huskers defense had no chance. The game plan didn’t help. Wade Taylor caught fire and never cooled off in a 98-83 rout of the Huskers

The Aggies dominated from the 3-point line, at the rim, and on the offensive glass. It was a master class and a massive disappointment for Nebraska basketball. Here are three takeaways.

Bad defensive strategy doomed Nebraska

Nebraska needed to change it up to slow down Wade Taylor. Whether it was bringing Jamarques Lawrence into the starting lineup, trying to go zone, or something different, playing man-to-man with a big lineup was never going to work. Taylor is 6-foot and lightning quick. Brice Williams is a great scorer but he’s 6-foot-9 and stood no chance. Neither did Juwan Gary.

It was a massive miscalculation by the Nebraska coaching staff. Taylor got some open looks early and that was the last thing the Huskers needed. He made his first five triples early and his teammates followed suit.

The 3-point defense was a weakness all season and it reared its ugly head on Friday night. It was made even worse by the defensive matchups/strategy employed by the coaching staff.

Deja Vu

This reminded me so much of the 1994 Nebraska-Penn NCAA tournament game. The Huskers had just won the Big 8 tournament and were facing an 11-seed. It seemed like destiny. The perfect time to get an NCAA tournament win — sort of like Friday night.

But just like that terrible night, or the game against Arkansas in 1998, or the loss to Baylor in 2014, this game was over by halftime. Truthfully, it was over halfway through the first half.

Nothing went Nebraska’s way. Keisei hit some treys and Brice Williams made some plays but this was the kind of game you expect between a No. 1 and No. 16 seed, not an 8-9.

Nothing worse than an NCAA tournament loss

Losing in the NCAA tournament is like losing in the Super Bowl. It’s one of the worst experiences you can have as a sports fan, especially when you think your team is due for a run.

A deep run for Nebraska basketball would have been making the second round, but still, it would have been a massive achievement. It would have felt like winning a national title.

Just look at all the fans in Memphis. Matt Rhule was there for goodness’ sake. Nebraska fans wanted this so bad and it seems like every time we get our hopes up, this is what happens.

It’s just a hard pill to swallow. This was a spectacular team. Keisei Tominaga will always be one of my favorite Nebraska basketball players — just like Eric Piatkowsk. But this was a crushing loss — something all Husker fans have gotten way too used to.

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